SKIN CANCER FACTS

Sunscreen Questions Answered

All the sunscreen facts you need to know

Can I reuse last year's sunscreen?
No, ma'am. Sunscreen has an expiration date of about a year and should be thrown away at the end of the season. If it starts to separate or change textures sooner, toss it, says Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Do you really need sunscreen if you have dark skin?
It's true that more skin pigment = more melanin = more natural protection, but people with dark skin are still at risk for skin cancer. And it's often deadlier because it's hidden in places like hands and feet and not diagnosed until it's in a serious stage.

Is it OK to get a little base tan when I'm pasty?
Any sun exposure damages and ages the skin, so even a hint of color means you're creating wrinkles, sagging, and cell injury that could lead to skin cancer.

If I wear a hat, can I forgo sunscreen on my face?
The broadest brim can't shade all parts of your face. "The UV rays that reflect up from the sand and water wind up on your face," says Robert Friedman, M.D., a dermatologic oncologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the NYU School of Medicine. "And any sun you see coming through the hat when you hold it up is hitting your hair and scalp." The best lids have a tight weave made of UV-infused fabric (UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor). Try Scrunchie UPF 50 + by Wallaroo Hat Company ($38, walleroohats.com).

Do I really have to reapply every two hours?
Yep. Your body's thermostat keeps you cool by creating moisture on the skin, and that dilutes sunscreen and causes it to evaporate, explains Friedman. It takes only a couple of minutes to reapply, but the ramifications last forever. "Women spend so much time and money to look younger, but they don't realize that the best anti-aging serum is sunscreen," says Kathy Fields, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California at San Francisco. Make reapplication a breeze with a mess-free spray. Try L'Oreal Paris Sublime Sun SPF 30 Crystal Clear Mist ($10, at drugstores).